Piston knurling machine



Sept- 15, 1953 H. P. PHILLIPS PISTON KNURLING MACHINE* 5 Sheets-Sheet lFiled Jan. 27, 1949 .iK/'7.5- y

vNVVJENTOR. Haro/d Z P/w//l' 6 ATTORNEY,

5 Sheetsheet 2 Filed Jan. 27, 1949 XT w Z Sept 15, 1953 H. P. PHILLIPS2,651,953

PISTON KNURLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. f15, 195,3

PISTON KNURLING MACHINE Harold P. Phillips, Hastings, Mich., assignor toHastings Manufacturing Company, Hastings,

Mich.

Application January 27, 1949, Serial No. 73,085

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in piston knurling machine.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a manually operated machine for knurling the sidewalls of pistons by repeatedly passing a knurling tool over a selectedportion `of the piston while applying a relatively light pressure on thetool.

Second, to provide an inexpensive knurling .machine with means foradjustably supporting a piston underneath an oscillatable knurling tool.

Third, to provide means for controlling the stroke or path of aYknurling tool relative to a piston to be knurled.

Fourth, to provide simplified means for applying both knurling pressureand movement to a knurling tool. A'

Other objects and advantages relating to details of my knurling machinewill be apparent from a consideration of the following description andclaims.

The drawings of which there are three sheets illustrate two forms of amanually operated knurling machine.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of the knurling machine.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken along theplane of the line 3-3 in Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of thearrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view through thepressure and stroke adjusting mechanism of the machine shown in Figs. 1and 2 along the plane of the line 4-4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental transverse cross sectional view through amodified form of knurling machine, the section being taken along theplane of the line 5-5 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along the plane ofthe line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

The machine illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 consist of a base I having atransversely elongated iront portion 2 which supports a pair of rods 3forming a slideway. Slidably mounted on the rods 3 are a pair of endplates 4 each of which has three pairs of downwardly converging grooves5 formed on its inner face. The grooves y 5 are arranged to selectivelyreceive a pair oi support plates 6 in downwardly converging relation andthe plates are secured in the grooves to hold the end plates together bymeans of the cap screws 'I. The support plates 6 form an adjustablewedge shaped support for supporting pistons of dierent sizes asindicated at 8, with the upper side of the piston in approximately thesame position.

Just to the rear of the transverse portion 2. the base is provided witha bracket 9 having an upright Iii to which the operating lever I I ispivotally connected. Spaced above its connection to the upright Iii, thelever Il is provided with a pivot pin I2 for pivotally supporting thepressure arm I3. The arm I3 is curved upwardly in front of the pivot I2so as to overlie the piston t and is provided with a head I4 foradjustably receiving the tool holder I5. The tool holder I5 carries therotatable knurling wheel i5 for engagement with the side Wall of thepiston B.

To the rear of the bracket 9 the base l is provided with a guide bracketIl having an upright i8 extending thereabove. As is more particularlyshown in Fig. 4, the side of the upright IS supports an angle shapedclip I9 to form a guide slot 2@ between the side of the upright and theclip. The guide slot 20 slidably receives the rear guide portion 2i ofthe arm I3. It will be noted that the inner surface of the clip I9 isstepped as at 22 to form a shoulder along the side of the slot 20 forreceiving the gage block 23. A pin 2d is secured to the clip over theshoulder 22 and the gage block 23 is vertically slotted as at 25 so asto be easily removable from the clip. The guide portion 2l of the arm I3is provided with a pair of projecting pins 25 (see Figs. 1 and 2) whichare arranged to strike against the ends of the gage block as the arm isreciprocated to limit the motion of the pressure arm and lever.Obviously gage blocks 23 of different lengths can be fitted in the clipI9 to vary the stroke of the machine.

The top of the upright I8 is provided with a pivot pin 2l which supportsa spring abutment arm 28 on the rear of the machine. The position of thearm 28 relative to the upright can be adjusted by means of the screw 29extending through the upright and bearing against a portion of the arm28 radially of the pin 2l. The

' rear end of the arm 28 is engaged with one end of the spring 35i whilethe lower end of the spring Si) is hooked around the rear end or thepressure arm i3. It will thus be seen that the spring 3@ will act tourge the forward end of the pressure arm downwardly about the pivot I2to press the knurling wheel i6 against the piston. The tension of thespring and therefore the pressure of the wheel IE5 can be adjusted bymeans of the screw 29.

In order to release the pressure on the knurling wheel I6 as whenremoving a piston or installing a piston to be knurled, have provided arelease cam 3| pivotally mounted on the side of the upright by the pin32. The cam 3| is operated by the lever 33 and is adjustable to threepositions as determined by the detents 3!! engageable with a spring'pressed ball 35fcarried: by Ithe upright i8. Fig. l shows the machineand release cam' 3| in fully loaded position with the cam engaging theguide portion 2| of the pressure arm at its lowest cam surface. Bymoving the lever 33; till the intermediate detent 34 engages the ball,the rear end of the pressure arm willbemoved'downwardly slightly causingthe knurling tool I6 to be retracted slightly from the piston. Movementof the release cam to fully release position will of course retract theknurling wheel further.

A preferred method of operation of my machine is to fully release thecam 'l and install the piston 8 on the support plates t. The toolholder'-l I5.` is then= adjusted until the lrnurling wheel engages thesurfaces of the piston after which the lever 33 can be moved to eitherintermediate or fully loaded position depending upon thedepthvofknur-ling desired. The operator then manually reciprocates the lever ilcausing the knurling toolto move in an arcuate path over the surface ofthe piston as indicated by the dotted linesV in Fig. 3. With theknurling wheel tightly.' engaging the piston 3, the release cam 3|` willinitially move away fromA the pressure arm. As the knurling tool pressesinto the piston the. pressure arm will slowll rise until it contacts therelease cam Si indicating that the knurling operation is complete.

The modiiiedV form of machine illustrated in Figs. and 6 consists or abase 56 having a transversely extending T-slot 3l formed in its uppersurface. An angle shaped work holding bracket 38 isslidably mounted onthe hase and is providedwith a` clamping nut 3S engageable with theT-slot for clamping the support in adjusted position. The upright angeof the work support 33 carries'a'laterally projecting pin fili which-isadapted to project into and support a piston 8 along the'vertical ilangeof the support. The vertical flange is slotted as at il and an eye bolt42 has its'threaded shank passed through the slot to.v the adjustingwheel Q3'. The piston S is clamped tightly against the vertical flangeof thefworlrholder by passing a bar is through the wrist pin holes ofAthe piston and through the head1of-the eye-bolt. The eye bolt is thendrawn up tight by the-hand wheel 43.

To the rear ofthe work support the base 3G is provided with a bracket l5having an upright llt; Anoperating lever #il has its lower end pivotallysupported on the upright 4S. The lever i1 has a pair of spaced ears 48projecting from one side thereof and tapped to receive the cap screws'49. The cap screws i9 are alternately engageable with the upper portionof the upright 46 to limit oscillation of the lever ill.

Pivotally secured to a raised portion of th-e lever 4l is the pressurearm Eil which projects forwardly across the work holder 38 and thepiston held thereon. The pressure arm carries the bracket 5I on whichtheknurling tool 52 is rotatably mounted. The forward end oiV the pressurearm 5d has a grip or handle 53 formed there- The operation of the secondform of my machine is etxremely simple. The piston is clamped to'theworkholder as previously described and the work holder is then adjustedtransversely along the T-slot 3l' to locate the selected portion of thepiston underneath the knurling wheel 52. The operator then oscillatesthe lever 4l with one hand while exerting a downward load or pressure onthe handle 53 and pressure arm 50. The cap screws 49 can be adjusted todet-erminethe length of the knurl to be formed and with a littlepractice the operator can hecome procient in applying the correctpressure to the pressure arm and in oscillating the lever uil'sufficiently to produce the desired depth of knurl'.

I' have thus described two practical forms of my piston knurling machineso that others may reproduce andl operate the machine without furtherdisclosure. I have not attempted to illustrate oth'er'formsor possiblemodications of the 1 machine and do not limit my claims to the partcularmodiiications illustrated.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: j Y I 1. A machine for knurling pistonscomprising a base, a work support transversely adjustable on said basefor supporting a piston in a xed'position with its longitudinal axisextending transversely of the base, an operating lever having a handleand being pivotally mounted on said base behind saidsupport andswingableY in a vertical longitudinal plane, a p'ressi'irearmpivotallysecured to said lever at a point spaced from the pivotal connectionbetween said leverA and base, a knurling tool carried by said pressurearm and located over said WorkV supportY to engage a pistonthereon,meansat one en'd of said pressure arm for applying a pressurethereto for pressing said knurlingwheel against a piston, and stop meansonl said base to limit the oscillation of Said lever and said arm.

2. A machine for knurling pistons comprising a base, a work supporttransversely adjustable on said base for supporting a piston in a fixedposition with its longitudinal axisextending transversely of the base,an operating lever having a handle and being pivotally mounted on saidbase and swingable in a verticall longitudinal plane, a pressure armpivotally secured to said lever at a point spaced from the pivotal'connection? between said lever and base, a knurlirig tool carried bysaid pressure arm and located over said work support to engage a pistonthereon, and means at one end of said pressure armV for applying" avpressure thereto for pressing saidlnurling wheel against a piston. Y

3. A piston knurling machine comprising a base, a transversely extendingV-shaped work support transverselyV adjustably mounted on the front ofsaid base',v an operating' lever pivotally secured to said base to therear of said support 1 and oscillatable in a vertical longitudinalplane, a pressure arm pivotally connected to said lever above said base,a' knurlingY tool' adjustably sel cured to the front end'of saidarm' tooverlie said work holder, an upright secured to said4 base to the rearof said lever, said' arm having a, rear` portion oscillatable across theside or" said' 1113- right, a guide clip secured to Said upright andlapped upon the rear vportion of said arm inl oppositionV to saidupriglit`,.a gage block removably supported on said clip and heldagainst longitudinal movement with respect thereto, stop pins carried bysaid arm and engageable with theendS of said gage block, an anchor arm'angularl'y adjustably mounted on said". upright', a spring stretchedbetweer'said anchor amr andthe-rear end of said pressure arm tourge`said knurling tool toward said work holder, a release cam rotatablyadjustably mounted on said upright and having a cam surface engageablewith said pressure arm to limit the action f said spring 011 saidpressure arm, and a springpressed ball engageable between said uprightand said cam in a plurality of positions of said cam.

4. A piston knurling machine comprising a base, a transversely extendingV-shaped work support mounted on the front of said base, an 0D- eratinglever pivotally secured to said base t0 the rear of said support, apressure arm pivotally connected to said lever above said base, aknurling tool secured to the front end of said arm to overlie said workholder, an upright secured to said base to the rear of said lever, saidarm having a rear portion oscillatable across the side of said upright,a guide clip secured to said upright and lapped upon the rear portion ofsaid arm in opposition to said upright, a gage block removably supportedon said clip and held against longitudinal movement with respectthereto, stop pins carried by said arm and engageable with the ends ofsaid gage block, an anchor arm angularly adjustably mounted on Saidupright, a spring stretched between said anchor arm and the rear end ofsaid pressure arm to urge said knurling tool toward said work holder,and a release cam rotatably adjustably mounted on said upright andhaving a cam surface engageable with said pressure arm to limit theaction of said spring on said pressure arm.

5. A piston knurling machine comprising a base, a transversely extendingV-shaped work support mounted on the front of said base, said supporthaving adjustable Work engaging members to accommodate pistons ofdifferent diameters, a manual operating lever pivotally secured to saidbase to the rear of said support and oscillatable longitudinally of saidbase, a pressure arm pivotally connected to Said lever above Said base,a knurling tool adjustably secured to the front end of said arm tooverlie said Work holder, an upright secured to said base to the rear 0fsaid lever, said arm having a rear portion oscillatable across saidupright, a guide on said upright and lapped upon the rear portion ofsaid arm in opposition to said upright, a gage block removably supportedon said guide and held against longitudinal movement with respectthereto, stops on said arm and engageable with the ends of said gageblock, an anchor arm angularly adjustably mounted on said upright, aspring stretched between said anchor arm and the rear end of saidpressure arm to urge said knurling tool toward said work holder, andarelease cam rotatably adjustably mounted on said upright and having acam surface engageable with said pressure arm to limit the action ofsaid spring on said pressure arm.

6. A piston knurling machine comprising a base, a transversely extendingV-shaped work support mounted on the front of said base, said supporthaving adjustable work engaging members to accommodate pistons ofdifferent diameters, a manual operating lever pivotally secured to saidbase to the rear of said support and 0S- cillatable longitudinally ofsaid base, a pressure arm pivotally connected to said lever above saidbase, a knurling tool secured to the front end of said arm to overliesaid work holder, an upright secured to said base to the rear of saidlever, said arm having a rear portion oscillatable across said upright,a guide on said upright and lapped upon the rear portion of said arm in013- position to said upright, a gage block removably supported on saidguide and held against longitudinal movement with respect thereto, stopson said arm and engageable with the ends of said gage block, an anchorarm mounted on said upright, a spring stretched between said anchor armand the rear end of said pressure arm to urge said knurling tool towardsaid work holder, and a release cam rotatably adjustably mounted on saidupright and having a cam surface engageable with said pressure arm tolimit the action of said spring on said pressure arm.

7. A piston knurling machine comprising a base, a work support mountedon said base to support a piston with its axis extending transversely ofsaid base, an operating lever pivotally secured to said base, a pressurearm pivotally connected to said lever at a point spaced from the pivotalconnection between said base and said lever, a knurling tool secured tothe end of said arm to overlie said work holder, an upright secured tosaid base, said arm having a portion oscillatable across said upright, aguide to said upright and lapped upon said arm, a gage block removablysupported on said upright and held against longitudinal movement withrespect thereto, stops on said arm and engageable with the ends of saidgage block, a spring connected between said upright and said pressurearm to urge said knurling tool toward said work holder, and a releasecam rotatably mounted on said upright and having a cam surfaceengageable with said pressure arm to limit the action of said spring onsaid pressure arm.

8. A piston knurling machine comprising a base, work support mounted onsaid base to support a piston with its axis extending transversely ofsaid base, an operating lever pivotally secured to said base, a pressurearm pivotally connected to said lever at a point spaced from the pivotalconnection between said base and said lever, a knurling tool secured tothe end of said arm to overlie said work holder, an upright secured tosaid base, said arm having a portion oscillatable across said upright, agage block removably supported on said upright and held againstlongitudinal movement with respect thereto, stops on said arm andengageable with the ends of said gage block, a spring connected betweensaid upright and said pressure arm to urge said knurling tool towardsaid work holder, and a release cam rotatably mounted on said uprightand having a cam surface engageable with said pressure arm to limit theaction of said spring on said pressure arm.

9. A piston knurling machine comprising a base, a work support mountedon said base to support a piston with its axis extending transversely ofsaid base, an operating lever pivotally secured to said base, a pressurearm pivotally connected to said lever at a point spaced from the pivotalconnection between said base and said lever, a knurling tool secured tothe end of said arm to overlie said work holder, an upright secured tosaid base, said arm having a portion oscillatable across said upright, aspring connected between said upright and said pressure arm to urge saidknurling tool toward said work holder, and a release cam rotatablymounted on said upright and having a cam surface engage- Yable with saidpressure arm to limit the action of said spring on said pressure arm.

10. A machine for knurling pistons comprising a base, a work support onsaid base for sup- `porting; a piston im a. xedA position with its;1on1'- gitudinal axis extendingl transversely of the base, an upstandingoperating lever. havingaz handle and being pivotal-lyK mounted ou saidbase, an elengated pressure'arm solelymountecl by being directlypivota-lly'securedto said lever at a point spaced` inwardly fromone: endof said arm providing a free end andzat: a point spaced from the pivotalconnection between said leverandbase, the pivotal mountings. ofr saidlever and armV being parallel. so that oscillation ot saint lever willvreciproeate said free end: lengthwise and said sole pivotal mounting forsaid; armv will allow said reciprocation as well as allow. said free endto move toward. and from the work, a knurling ytool 1* carried by thefree. end of said' pressureI arm remote from itsA pivotala mounting. andlocated over said Work` support to engage. an piston thereon,

swinging. movement `means. operating uponA aportion of said Pressurearmfor apply-ing; a'foltce thereto tending to swing said; armabout. itspivot relative to said lever forfpressngpsaidlknurl-ing tool against apiston, and-.stop means: determining the extent of said HAROLD P.PHILLIPS.

References Cited' in the me. of this patent i UNITED STATES., PATENTS

